Mechanical adjuster and manipulator



Nov. 19, 1940. L DCUGLAS MECHANICAL'ADJUSTER AND MANIPULATOR Filed Aug.

Lamm 00062146 ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED' Simfree MECHANICAL ADJUSTERAND- viuAitiiuJLA'ron f Leslie Douglas, Nashville, Tenn. Appiieatign August 4, 193s, serial No. 222,955

, c. 4 claims. (01.128-57) This invention relates to improvements'in mechanical adjustors and manipulators designed'for the correction and treatment of certain abnormal conditions of man and animal, but more par-` ticularly of man. The instrument is intendedto gradually and painlessly correct any and all subluxations, stiinesses, weaknesses, and adhesions, ligatights and muscular contractions, contractures and tensions of the three hundred varticulations of the human body, including those of the spinal column, the costo-vertebral and the sacroiliac articulations, the knee, arches of the foot, shoulder, and clavicle especially, and for massage andv manipulation of tissue and muscle.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide, in a device of this character a roller carrying bodies of rubber or other resilient material of various shapes, especially suitedor the purpose intended, and which may be removed from the an instrument of this'type which is 'relatively simple and cheap to manufacture, which is dur-- able and not likely to get out of order and which is simple and easy to use.

With the foregoing and other objectsin view, my invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, vas hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherei-n are` shown certain embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the appended claims.

My invention may be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing which, l

Figure 1 is a horizontal section through ai manipulator embodying my invention in its prev ous arrangements of parts suitable for treating` various. conditions, and

Figure 4 is an elevation of an alternativeform:

of my invention especially adapted for colonic in.Y

massage, and for adjustment of spinous processes, oneside of transverse processes, and innominate bones, etc.

Referring now in more ydetail to the drawing and to Figure 1 in particular, the numeral I0 indicates the tubular core member which is exteriorly threaded for its entire length. Threadedly, engaging and` closing the ends of the core member IIl are thecap members I I projecting outwardly `from thecent'ers of which are the axle studs I2 upon which are rotatably carried the operating handles I3. `The space within the tubular core member I0 between the cap members I I isoccupied by a plurality of removable, cylindrical weights I4 preferably made of lead or other relatively heavy material and a plurality of weight spacing or locating members I5 preferably formed of wood or other relatively light ma.-A terial. It is, of course, understood that while, for purposes of illustration, I have here shown two vweights and two weight spacing'members as completely filling the'space within member I0, these weights and weight spacing members may be made as small and as numerous as desired in order to allow fox` close adjustmentof the weight and the center of gravity ofthe device. For example, lead shotmay be `used as weight material if desired. l

Carried I upon and engaging theV exteriorly threaded surface of the tubular core member I0 are the comparatively long interiorly threaded sleeves I6 and the comparatively shortinteriorly threadedsleeves I'I. `Sleeves I6 carry the cylindrical bodies'ofresilient material I8 which may be formed of felt, rubber or other suitable material. I' prefer that they be formed of sponge rubberfthat they'be vulcanized to the external surface ofjsleeves I6, and that their exposed surfaces be covered by suitable material such as cloth, ad-v hesive tape, felt or the like, I8a. These cylindrical bodies are preferably formed with one square andone bevelled end, the bevelled end being in the form of a'frustum of a cone,` for purposes which will later appear.

The sleeves II carry the cylindrical bodies I9, of similar-materiales 4bodies I8, and having their exposed surfaces protected by the cover material I9a similar to cover material 18a. Bodies I9 are of greater diameter than that of bodies I8 but are much shorter in length.

In Figure 4 I have shown anotherv form of reslient body`20. Body 20 is constructed of material and covering similar to bodies I8 and I9 just described but its external surface is that of a toroid. It isdesigned to be carried upon the tubular core member II) in the same manner as bodies I8 and I9 just described.

Also carried upon and engaging the exterior threaded surface of the tubular core member I are the interiorly threaded locking nuts or rings 2| which are adapted to bear against the ends of sleeves I6 and II and to retain or lock said sleeves upon member I0.

Thus it will be seen that by removing one or both caps II the bodies I8, I9 and 2D`may be removed from core member I0 lby rotation relative thereto, the interiorly threaded surfaceof the sleeves cooperating with the exteriorlyl threaded surface of member I0. Bodies I8,I9 and 20 may be placed upon core memberl I9 in any desired order or arraangement and may beV adjusted to occupy any desired position thereon and may be locked or retained in theiradjusted positions by the lock nuts or rings 2|.

Also by adding or removing weights I4 and spacers I5 the total Weight of the instrument may be adjusted. By suitably arranging Vthe weights and spacers the center of gravity of the 'instrument may be shifted toward eitherend or 1ocated in the center of the instrument.

As an example of one of these various arrangements of parts, Figure 2 illustrates their disposal inl an arrangement which is especially adapted for use in correcting subluxations of the vertebrae. The distance between the adjacent endsof bodies I9 is adjusted so as to permit the spinous processes of the patients spinal column to enter between them and so that the peripheral surfaces of bodies I9 bear directly upon the transverse processes of the vertebrae. Since the conditions vary with the size and physical make up of each individual patient it is essential that this adjustment be properly made for each case. If the distance between bodies I9 is too small the spinous processes will not enter properly and will be subject to too much pressure. Also, in the case of certain abnormally formed spinous processes, too little distance between bodies I9 may cause adisplacement of the centrum or body of the vertebrae.

If the space between bodies I9 is too great;

their peripheral surfaces will fail to bear upon the transverse processes and most of the advantages of the treatment will be lost. 'Ig'hus it willrbe seen that this adjustment and the accuracy thereof is very essential to optimum results.

The bodies I8 are adjusted so their square ends abut and support the outer ends of bodies I 9 and lock nuts or rings 2| are tightened against sleeves spine than upon those on the other side, asfor example, in the treatment of, certain cases of scoliosis and rotation of the Spine, the weight members may be arranged so as to concentrate the weight at one end of the instrument.

The. instrument is then applied with a backand-forth rolling motionY to. the spine 'of the patient who occupies a prone position, the peri pheral surfaces of bodies I9 gradually andpainlessly urging the transverse processes kin a direction to correct subluxationsof the articulations of the spine. The peripheral vsurfaces of 'bodies I8 exerting a similar but less intenseA .pressure upon the lribs `and the whole; producing a bene-v iicial massaging and stimulative .effect upon'the.

parts. The feelings of the patient are generally used as a guide in judging the amount of pressure to be exerted.

The parts may be arranged as shown in Figure 3 wherein the bodies I9 have been removed and bodies I8 brought together so that the square ends thereof abut in such manner as to form a continuous resilient roller of uniform diameter. This arrangement may be used, either with or without 'weights as an ordinary massage roller forfthe correction of adiposity and like conditions. Without weights, it may be used upon the face and neck to stimulate the tissues, etc. useful in strengthening the arches of the foot.

' The arrangement illustrated in Figure 4, wherein bodies I8 and I9 have been removed and lbody 20 substituted therefor may be used,

weighted asdesired, for massaging the colon, for relieving constipation, adhesions and the like,

' and for adjustment of spinous processes, one side of transverse processes, and innominate bones, etc. f lThe arrangement lillustrated in Figure 5, wherein the bodies |-8 have been placed upon the corewith their bevelled ends adjacent and spaced slightly'apart, may be used upon certain patients in a manner similar tothat described in reference to Figure 1 and may also be used 'in massaging and `strengthening the lmuscles yof 'the arm, leg andthe "like.

'While-I* have described the principle of my invention, together with thestructures which I noW consider thek preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that'th'e structures shown are merely i'llustrativeand' that such changes may be made, when 'desired,'as fall within the Yscope of the invention as claimed.

AHaving thus described my invention what I claim and ydesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. I-n a device of the class described a roller comprising a tubular core member, cylindrical bodies 'of resilient materialcarried concentrically upon ysaid core,k and a plurality of weights and a plurality of weight spacing members removably carried within said-tubular core.

2. Ina vdevicejof |the 'class described,a tubular coremember externally 'thread-ed for its entire length, internally threaded cap'members engaging) and closingthe ends 'of said tubular core memberyan axle 'carried by each of said caps, ahandle rotatably carried upon each of said axles, a plurality o f interiorly threaded sleeves surrounding said .tubular core member and engaging the threads thereof in such manner that rotation of a sleeve about said tubular core member will change'the location of said sleeve in relation to the other sleeves and to the tubular core member, meansfor locking said sleeves to said tubular core member for preventing such rotation of a sleeve relative to said'mem'ber, and a plurality of cylindrical bodies of resilient material each surrounding and affixed to one of said sleeves.

3, I n a device of theclass described, a tubular c ore -rnember externally threaded for its entire length, internally threaded cap members engaging and closing the ends of said tubular core membenan axle carried by each of said caps, a handle rotatably carried upon each of said axles, a, plurality of interiorly threaded sleeves sur roundingsaid tubular -core member and engaging the threads thereof in such manner that rotation of la sleeve` about said tubular core member will change the location of said sleeve in relation toY the other sleeves and to the tubular core member, means-for locking said sleeves to said tubular member for preventing `.such Vrotation of a sleeve It is also l relative to said member, a plurality of cylindrical bodies of resilient material each surrounding and afxed to one of said sleeves and a plurality of Weights and a plurality of Weight spacing members removably contained Within said tubular member, whereby the Weight and the location of the center of gravity of the instrument may be adjusted.

4. A device of the class described consisting of 1U a core member, cylindrical bodies of resilient material carried concentrically upon said core member, a plurality of weights of relatively heavy material and a plurality of weight spacing members of relatively light material separately and removably carried by said core member, whereby the weight and the weight distribution of said tions of the resilient bodies.

LESLIE DOUGLAS. 

